Mike Alvarado, left, and Juan Manuel Márquez, of Mexico, pose in the ring during a media workout at the Azteca Boxing Club in Bell, Calif., Wednesday, May 14, 2014. The pair are preparing for their upcoming WBO welterweight title elimination bout at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, May 17. The winner will become the mandatory challenger to WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. AP
INGLEWOOD, California — Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico won a clear unanimous decision over Mike Alvarado on Saturday night, dominating in his return to the Forum ring for its first boxing card in 13 years.
Marquez (56-7-1) dismantled Alvarado with 12 rounds of technical brilliance and vicious power, knocking down Alvarado in the eighth round and bouncing back from his own ninth-round knockdown to finish strong. Marquez staggered Alvarado right before the final bell, punctuating another for the 40-year-old four-division champion.
The welterweight victory likely sets up Marquez for a fifth fight with Manny Pacquiao.
Alvarado (34-3) never got rolling in his second straight defeat, never landing any major shots beyond the right that sent Marquez to the canvas.
Marquez improved to 13-0 at the Forum, where he hadn’t fought since 1999.
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